Nestled between the mountains and the sea, the capital of the French Riviera still blends the blue hues of the Bay of Angels with the white peaks of the Mercantour massif at this time of the year. Just a few turns of the pedals are enough to get from the Mediterranean Sea to the foot of the most stunning climbs in the Nice Côte d'Azur metropolitan area, bang in the middle of jaw-dropping mountain landscapes. The sporting heart of this region beats all the way from the Promenade des Anglais to the Col de la Bonette, which peaks at over 2,700 masl on the highest road in Europe. It is a real paradise for a wide range of sports, which can be practised in all seasons: skiing, sailing, running, ultra-trail running, mountain biking, hiking, mountaineering and, of course, cycling. In a historic first for the Race to the Sun, the penultimate stage of Paris–Nice will roll out from Nice and take the peloton to Auron, at a height of 1,600 metres, highlighting all the amazing views our region has to offer in March.